In the high schools "Svetozar Marković", "Stevan Sremac" and "Bora Stanković" in Niš, part of the collective, sometimes majority, sometimes minority, decided to end the suspension of work and return to classes, writes Jelena Canić Milovanović from Southern news.
The students, however, do not agree with this idea, so they decided to physically block the entrance to the classrooms. Support for high school students from "Svetozar Marković" was provided today by parents and citizens, and the students say that they understand the professors who are under pressure and that they want to transfer the burden of the struggle to themselves.
"I don't think our professors should be condemned for this kind of decision, because many of them have their livelihood hanging in the balance by withholding their salaries. However, we consider it unacceptable to return to the classroom as if nothing had happened. We don't have the experience and maturity that the students and our professors have, but we don't want to give up. Everything is compensable, except for justice," one student of this high school told "Vreme".
He adds that more than half of the teachers at the "Svetozar Marković" Gymnasium voted last week to return to classes from Monday, but they were prevented from doing so by students who blocked the entrance to the school.
The burden of the struggle is taken by the students
"We believe that the decision of our professors is partly caused by external pressures, such as salary reductions, pressure from parents, and the like. By entering into a closed type of blockade, where professors will be prohibited from entering, we want to transfer the burden of this struggle to us," the students announced.
They point out that they are united in a struggle that goes beyond the school walls and crosses the borders of the classrooms.
"Even though you have now decided to return to the classroom and hold classes, we students believe that we must not stop. Our struggle must continue," emphasized the students of "Svetozar Marković" Gymnasium.
The students were joined by their parents, who were there to support them.
The situation is similar in other high schools in Nis.
A quarter of the professors of the First Niš Grammar School "Stevan Sremac" also decided to return to classes, but since this morning the students have been blocking the entrance to the classrooms with chairs and tables in the corridor. They remind that they will continue with the blockade until the student demands are fulfilled.
A similar decision was made by part of the teachers of the "Bora Stanković" Gymnasium, and the students announce a blockade from 13 pm and call on citizens to support them.
Source: Southern News